News & Events

Mid-America News
Show Calendar
State Event Calendars

Regular Features

The Antique Detective
Antique Detective Q&A
Antiquing in Colorado
Common Sense Antiques
Editor's Notebook
Helpful Hints
   for Collectors
Is This An Antique?
Reflecting History
Traveling with Ken

Directories & Classifieds

Auction Block
The Finder: Unique Shops
Lodgings Directory
Heirloom Recipes
Museum Directory
  Aviation Museums
Wineries in the Heartland
Books for Collectors

Classifieds

Web Links

2004 Best Of
  Reader Survey

Discover Mid-America - April 2004

Brilliant Cut Glass Not Always As Old As It Looks

If you are one of the many beginning collectors fascinated by American, brilliant cut glass, research and hands-on experience is a must. Begin your study by knowing it was made in many forms and patterns. It has never stopped attracting collectors since it was first introduced to Americans at the Philadelphia Centennial in 1876. It was very pricey even then. Today, choice, signed and important examples can sell for thousands of dollars. It continued to be “status” glass from the Centennial until 1915, when it went out of fashion.

American brilliant cut glass punch bowl on stand. Cut with hobstars, saw-tooth undulating edge. Photo courtesy of William Doyle Galleries, New York, New York.

Imports from Europe and Art Deco designs replaced the floral and geometric motifs. Now, classified as ”antique” it is enjoying a revival. There are many small pieces from bowls to vases and trays that are affordable since they have no signatures of their makers.

The art of cutting glass had its origins in Rome, in the 1st century A.D. They created a clear glass they named “crystal” that was cut into shallow geometric motifs. By the 17th century the Germans “rediscovered” the techniques of cutting glass, which shortly spread to the glass houses of Bohemia. By the end of the 17th century English glassmakers used a new metal, lead glass. However, it wasn’t until the late 18th and early 19th centuries that the English and Irish cut and engraved flint glass became important. So important that it influenced American glassmakers. Many of these glassmakers had emigrated from England. However, America developed its own cut glass style that dazzled the eye and was appropriately named “brilliant cut.”

Fine cut glass begins with a quality, hand-blown blank. It took years of training, skill and hard work to create the intricate patterns used on brilliant cut glass. Surprisingly, a few of the glasscutters were women.

Some of the finest examples of brilliant cut glass combined several geometric figures. The cutting completely covered the surface of the glass. By 1906 a combination of facts changed the look of American cut glass. There was less interest, and production costs had skyrocketed. What is known as the “flower period” of simple motifs, was the result.

CLUES

One of the early pieces from the flower period was the daisy motif. It was often combined with fans or hobstars. Problems for collectors occur not only when European pieces are passed off as American, but also when new pressed glass pieces are also cut.

Baskets are among the most common of these pressed-cut pieces. They have been sold here since the 1970s. Careful examination is necessary. First, they lack the brilliance of the American authentic brilliant cut pieces and the sharp edges. When “twanged,” they don’t respond with a bell tone.

Some unique forms were made that included lamps, tobacco jars, caviar jars and even wig stands. Brilliant cut glass lamps, long out of style, can cost several thousand dollars these days. Since not everybody appreciates the look of brilliant cut glass, there are discoveries waiting to be made. Several years ago I discovered a signed “Hawkes” fruit bowl and several small, unsigned relish dishes, in the cabinet, under the kitchen sink, at a house sale held by the owner.

“Oh those old things?” they replied to my question of the price. “We’ve had them forever. You can have them for $20.” The Hawkes fruit bowl could sell for over $500 in a shop.

To see some of the patterns and makers, “Identifying American Brilliant Cut Glass,” by Bill and Louise Boggess is a good reference. Published by Crown, it can still be found in Museum gift shops and libraries.

> The Antique Detective Archive — past columns